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Paradise Island
Paradise Island is a small island just off of Nassau, Bahamas. It is dominated by the Las Vegas-style Atlantis resort, which is responsible for an amazing 11% of the Bahamas' GNP.
Get in
Paradise Island is connected to New Providence Island (Nassau) by two bridges (one incoming, one outgoing). There's an entrance fee of $1 per vehicle.
There is also a ferry from Paradise Island to the main land. The schedule for the ferry is somewhat regular, but they try to wait until it is filled before departure.
If you're sailing your own yacht, you can dock at Hurricane Hole Marina , which has 90 slips for yachts that can be over 200 ft in length.
Get around
Most people get around the island by taxi, plenty of which can always be found hanging around outside the resort entrances. Since this island is small, many choose to walk.
See
Sights within Paradise Island are concentrated almost exclusively in the Atlantis resort, and are accessible only to resort guests or to those who rent a day room for $220 and up (usable by a maximum of 4 people). Don't attempt to sneak in — they do check that you're allowed to be there, and frequently.
The Dig, Atlantis. A tour around Atlantis' enormous aquaria, with a cheesy backstory about how you're actually exploring the ruins of Atlantis. Well worth a visit for the marine life alone, including giant manta rays and much more.
Predator Lagoon, Atlantis. Underwater tunnel through a vast tank full of sharks.
Do
Gamble at Atlantis. An age limit of 18 is enforced.Watch a Junkanoo Rush on Friday and Saturday evenings at Marina Village.
Buy
Marina Village, next to Atlantis. A shopping street built according to plans originally made for rebuilding Bay Street, the main shopping street in Nassau. A confection of pretty pastel houses, it's very pretty indeed and well worth a stroll, but the shops within are exceedingly pricey — you can find most of what they sell in Nassau at much lower prices.
Eat
Dune, Ocean Club. Good food, good service, great views and an incredible price tag: a fruit platter costs $22 and a bottle of water $10. But if you want to eat where James Bond did... Open to non-guests, just tell the gate that you're eating there.
Drink
Dune Bar, Ocean Club. If you want to check out the Ocean Club without paying through the nose for a room or dinner, this is your cheapest option. Open through the day and great sea views onto the beach. Drinks from $10, or go for the Royale Martini at $15.
Hurricane Hole, just east of the bridge (in the marina). Officially the Waterfront Bar and Grill, this is an un-touristy outdoor drinking joint frequented by a motley mix of locals and yachties from the marina. Very generously poured rum-based drinks from $3.50.
Sleep
The largest, most tourist-oriented hotel in Nassau. Located on Paradise Island, just...
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